If you are looking for a delicious and authentic pastelón recipe, your search is over. This flavorful dish has been a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine for generations and is enjoyed by many around the world. The traditional recipe involves layering ground beef and sweet plantains, creating a hearty and satisfying meal. With its unique blend of spices and textures, the pastelón recipe by Tasty will surely become a favorite in your kitchen.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
PASTELES RECIPE BY TASTY
Similar to the tamale, pasteles are traditional Latin American and Caribbean masa-based pockets wrapped in banana leaves. They can take many forms depending on who is making them-everyone has their own tried and true family recipe.
Provided by Gwenaelle Le Cochennec
Categories Sides
Time 2h40m
Yield 16 pasteles
Number Of Ingredients 28
Steps:
- Make the bell pepper purée: Add the bell peppers, garlic, onion, and cilantro to a food processor or blender and purée until well combined. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to use. Wipe out the food processor.
- Make the masa: Add the green plantains to the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add the kabocha squash, yautía blanca, and ripe plantains and process until completely smooth; this may take 5-10 minutes. Add the milk, salt, and butter and continue blending until well incorporated. Transfer to a bowl.
- Make the annatto oil: In a small saucepan, combine the achiote powder and olive oil. Warm over medium-low heat until the oil begins to shimmer slightly, whisking to ensure the achiote doesn't burn. Remove the pot from the heat and let stand for 1 minute.
- Add 1-2 teaspoons of the annatto oil to the masa mixture and stir to incorporate. Cover the masa with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use. Set the remaining annatto oil aside.
- Make the spiced ground beef: In a large pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the ginger, chiles, and red onion. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and sauté until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the coriander and za'atar. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the spices are toasted and fragrant.
- Increase the heat to medium and add the ground beef. Season with the remaining 2 teaspoons of salt and the pepper. Cook the beef is until browned and cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the reserved bell pepper purée and cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Simmer for 15 minutes until the flavors have melded, adding chicken stock as needed if the mixture gets too dry--some bubbling liquid should always be visible.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Use a slotted spoon to scoop the ground beef into a bowl, then cover and chill in the refrigerator until ready to use. Discard any excess liquid.
- Assemble the pasteles: Gather the banana leaves, annatto oil, masa, ground beef mixture, kitchen twine, offset spatula, and pastry brush, and set near a large, clean work surface.
- Heat a griddle or flat grill pan over medium-high heat. Working gently and carefully, lightly press one of the banana leaves onto the griddle with a kitchen towel. The leaf should quickly change color in the area where it meets the griddle. Rotate and repeat until the entire leaf has changed color and is hot and pliable.
- Place the banana leaf in the center of the work surface with the veins running horizontally. Brush the leaf with annatto oil. Scoop 4 tablespoons of masa onto the bottom center of the leaf. Scoop 3 tablespoons of ground beef into the center of the masa. Fold the bottom of the banana leaf up and over the filling to meet the top of the leaf, then fold the top of the leaf back over the center. Gently fold in the sides. Tie with twine to secure. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to form 16 pasteles total.
- Bring 2 large pots filled halfway with water to a boil, then salt generously.
- Lay the pasteles in the pots, being careful not to overcrowd, and cook for 30 minutes.
- Let the pasteles rest for 5-10 minutes before unwrapping. The pasteles can also be wrapped and frozen in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 570 calories, Carbohydrate 56 grams, Fat 32 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 17 grams, Sugar 21 grams
PASTELóN RECIPE BY TASTY
Pastelón is a Puerto Rican dish with many interpretations across the island. Our version nestles thinly sliced, fried sweet plantains between layers of savory ground beef and mozzarella cheese. The beef mixture can be made a day before assembling the pastelón--just refrigerate until ready to use!
Provided by Tikeyah Whittle
Categories Lunch
Time 3h30m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- To the bowl of a food processor, add the cilantro, culantro, onion, red and green bell peppers, garlic, oregano, and cumin. Pulse until combined. The sofrito should have the consistency of a tapenade.
- Heat ¼ cup (60 ml) of canola oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sofrito and fry, stirring constantly, until deepened in color but not brown, about 3 minutes. Add the olives to the pan and stir to combine.
- Add the ground beef to the pan and cook until no longer pink, about 7 minutes. Season with the ½ teaspoon salt.
- Add 1 teaspoon of adobo seasoning, the Sazón seasoning, and the tomato sauce and stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed into the meat, about 7 minutes. Transfer the beef mixture to a medium bowl with a slotted spoon, discarding any excess liquid. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel and set aside.
- Peel the plantains, cut in half crosswise, then slice each half lengthwise to get 4 thin slices.
- Heat the remaining cup of canola oil in the same pan over medium-high heat until the oil starts to shimmer. Test one plantain slice in the oil--if it bubbles and sizzles, the oil is ready.
- Fry the plantains in batches until they are lightly browned on the edges and tender in the centers, 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally with a fork. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season on both sides with salt.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Arrange a single layer of plantains in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish. Using a slotted spoon, top with about half of the meat mixture. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella over the meat sauce. Repeat with more plantains, the remaining meat sauce, and another cup of mozzarella. Finish with the remaining plantains.
- In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with the remaining teaspoon of adobo seasoning.
- Pour the egg mixture over the plantains, then cover the baking dish with foil.
- Bake the pastelón until the eggs are set and the cheese is bubbly, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and turn the oven to broil. Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining cup of mozzarella over the top. Broil for 5 minutes, or until cheese on top is golden brown. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1217 calories, Carbohydrate 78 grams, Fat 85 grams, Fiber 11 grams, Protein 44 grams, Sugar 33 grams
PASTELóN
Pastelón is a layered Puerto Rican casserole of plantains, cheese and picadillo, a tomato-based ground beef mixture seasoned with onions, peppers, herbs and spices. The dish is often referred to as Puerto Rican lasagna, and to say there is only one real recipe for pastelón would be like saying there's only one true lasagna. Variations abound! Some cooks boil the plantains and make a mash with taro; others fry them until they're sweet and crisp. Nearly any mild, meltable cheese may be used, though there is debate over whether or not to add raisins. This recipe is adapted from from Natalia Vallejo, chef and owner of Cocina al Fondo in Santurce, Puerto Rico. She doesn't serve pastelón at her restaurant, but she grew up eating it. Her version includes fried plantains, mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and raisins, because she says "Puerto Ricans like that sweet-and-salty mix."
Provided by Daniela Galarza
Categories dinner, casseroles, meat, vegetables, main course
Time 2h
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Prepare the plantains: Line a sheet pan with paper towels; set aside. Cut off the ends of each plantain. With the tip of a knife, score plantains lengthwise and peel off the skin. Using a serrated knife or chef's knife, cut each plantain in half lengthwise, and then halve again lengthwise so you end up with 24 long slices. (If some of the slices break or are unevenly shaped, that's OK! Carry on.)
- In a large cast-iron or heavy skillet, heat 1 cup oil over medium-high to between 350 and 375 degrees. Working with 4 to 6 slices at a time, depending on what fits, fry plantains until deep golden brown, turning halfway through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer fried plantains to the prepared sheet pan and cook remaining plantains; set aside. (Let oil cool, then strain and reserve for another use.)
- Prepare the sofrito: Put onion, bell pepper, ají dulce chiles (if using), garlic, cilantro and culantro (if using), in a food processor; blend until it becomes a rough, wet purée. (You should have about 1 cup sofrito).
- Prepare the picadillo: In a large, heavy skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium until it shimmers. Add the sofrito and cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and starts to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the beef and stir in the salt, pepper, cumin, paprika and oregano. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beef is evenly cooked and no longer pink, about 8 minutes. Turn off heat. Push meat mixture to one side, and carefully tilt skillet so that the fat from the meat collects at the bottom of the tilted pan; spoon off and discard as much of this excess fat as you can.
- Return the skillet to medium heat. Add the chopped tomatoes, wine and tomato paste and cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes fall apart and the liquid starts to reduce, about 10 minutes. Turn off heat and stir in olives and raisins, if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Picadillo can be made up to 2 days in advance. Rewarm it in a pan on the stove before proceeding with recipe.)
- Prepare the pastelón: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with butter. Whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt and set aside.
- Lay half the fried plantain slices along the bottom of the baking dish crosswise, piecing any broken pieces together to form an even layer. (If there are small gaps in the plantain layer, this is OK.) Top with half the picadillo (about 2 cups), smoothing it into an even layer, then sprinkle half the cheese on top in an even layer. Repeat with another layer of plantains then the remaining picadillo. Pour the whisked eggs evenly over the picadillo layer and spread it so it settles down into the pastelón. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
- Bake the pastelón until the egg is cooked, the cheese is melted and the layers are set, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve hot.
Tips:
- Use ripe plantains: Choosing ripe plantains with yellow skin and no green tinge will ensure a naturally sweet and flavorful pastelón.
- Season the ground beef well: Don't be shy with the seasonings for the ground beef filling. A flavorful combination of garlic, onion, bell pepper, oregano, cumin, and paprika will elevate the dish.
- Use a good quality cheese: Opt for a melting cheese like mozzarella or queso fresco for the perfect gooey, stretchy texture in the pastelón.
- Don't overcook the plantains: Keep a close eye on the plantains as they fry. Overcooked plantains will become mushy and lose their texture.
- Layer the pastelón carefully: Arrange the layers of plantains, ground beef, and cheese evenly to ensure each bite is a perfect combination of flavors and textures.
Conclusion:
Pastelón is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's a great way to use up leftover ground beef and plantains, and it's also a budget-friendly meal. With its vibrant colors, savory flavors, and satisfying texture, pastelón is sure to become a favorite in your household. So next time you're looking for a tasty and easy-to-make dish, give pastelón a try. You won't be disappointed!
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